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Bagpipes at English Weddings
by: Ed Arnold
Bagpipers are becoming
more and more popular at English weddings.
As a bagpiper of 15 years experience I find
that many people who book me to play are unsure
of what the role is of the piper at a wedding,
when it is necessary for him to play and what
tunes are suitable. This article briefly summarises
what is traditionally expected.
The Ceremony
The bagpiper traditionally pipes guests
in and out the ceremony playing medleys
of traditional Scottish marches including
Scotland The Brave, Maries Wedding, The
Barren Rocks of Aden, The Green Hills of
Tyrol and Bonnie Soldier, etc. It is also
traditional but not always custom for the
piper to pipe the bride down the aisle,
maybe play during the signing of the register
and then pipe the newlywed couple out of
the ceremony. In my experience the bride
has always had a tune in mind for being
piped down the aisle and that tune has generally
been Flower Of Scotland. If I'm asked to
play during the signing of the registar
it almost always Flower of Scotland, Amazing
Grace, Highland Cathedral or The Skye Boat
Song.
During Photos
The next point of call for the piper is
to have him playing during the signing of
the photos (usually in the background).
Traditionally what the piper plays is at
his discrepancy and will include medleys
of marches, jigs and reels to entertain
guests with. It is often required of the
piper to pose in several photos, usually
just with the bride and groom and any photos
of just men wearing kilts.
The Wedding Breakfast
The piper is not always required to play
at the wedding breakfast but if he does
it is traditional for him to pipe in the
guests and then pipe the bride and groom
to the top table and be presented with a
whiskey for doing so. The tune he will pipe
the bride and groom in with is usually one
that will get guests clapping. Scotland
the Brave never fails or the Black Bear
and neither does more jiggy numbers such
as Cock of the North and The Glendural Highlanders.
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